F3: Hadjar beats out title rival Martins in penultimate lap duel at Silverstone

Isack Hadjar reigned supreme in the battle of the F1 academy drivers, as the Red Bull junior swooped past Alpine Academy driver Victor Martins to snatch victory in the Formula 3 Silverstone Sprint Race.

The two were joined on the podium by Reece Ushijima, who races under a British licence, in his first taste of Formula 3 silverware in third.

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Lining up in fourth on the grid, Hadjar was immediately on the pace – passing Kush Maini for third and then setting out to catch the leading pair. Out in front, reverse grid pole sitter Ushijima lost out to Martins at the start but kept pace with the more experienced Frenchman before a mistake at Luffield allowed him to fall into Hadjar’s clutches.

A Safety Car on Lap 10 proved to be Martins’ undoing. Despite accelerating away smartly at the restart and going on the defensive, Hadjar had the momentum to sail past him around the outside of Stowe on the penultimate lap and secure a second victory in his rookie season.

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Ushijima’s best efforts were rewarded with third, as he eyed up an opportunity to get past the Championship leader all the way to the chequered flag. Maini finished third, ahead of Kaylen Frederick and the Trident duo of Roman Stanek and Zane Maloney.

Ferrari junior Arthur Leclerc ended the day as the top PREMA Racing driver, overtaking team mates Oliver Bearman and Jak Crawford to finish eighth – as the trio completed the top 10.
After a dream start to his and Carlin’s home race weekend, Williams junior Zak O’Sullivan lines up on pole for Sunday’s Feature Race when the action kicks off at 0835 local time.